Jerry Simms and Horse Racing

Horse racing has a long and illustrious history that dates back to the days of ancient Babylon. Even in the U.S., this sport has been a staple form of recreation since 1665.

As old and revered as horse racing is, few names today have prominence in the industry. Out of all of the horse racing icons known among modern-day fans of the sport, Jerry Simms perhaps is one of the most recognized and respected.

Jerry Simms himself professes a love for horse racing and horses in general that goes back to his childhood growing up in the American Midwest. Even as a child, Jerry Simms had a natural affinity for racehorses. Jerry Simms carried this preference for horses and horse racing into adulthood and credits it as one reason for why he eventually decided to venture into the professional horse racing industry.

Before Jerry Simms became a staple in horse racing, he first was an entrepreneur and startup businessman. His first ventures were car dealerships that Jerry Simms owned and operated in and around the Pasadena, California area. Jerry Simms later expanded his career into the banking and real estate industries before deciding to move to Phoenix in 1996.

His move to Phoenix was the result of his desire to make his mark in the horse racing industry. In 2000, Jerry Simms acquired the fabled Turf Paradise, a landmark horse racing venue outside of Phoenix. Under the watchful guidance of Jerry Simms, Turf Paradise has expanded and thrived into one of the country’s premier horse racing facilities. Racehorse owners from across the country flock to Turf Paradise to train and race their horses as well as make use of its history-making equine therapy pool.

While Jerry Simms devotes much of his professional life to operating and overseeing the daily functions of Turf Paradise and its website, he also makes time for his family. He calls himself a proud grandfather and acknowledges his affection for and devotion to his loved ones.

Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise

Even before Jerry Simms took it over, Turf Paradise enjoyed a respectable standing in the Phoenix community. It officially opened its doors to the public on January 7, 1956. However, its original owner conceived the idea for Turf Paradise several years prior and proceeded to build it despite the many people who told him he would not succeed.

In fact, Turf Paradise was built 25 miles from downtown Phoenix, a fact that many people argued would lead to its downfall. They said that no one would want to travel so far out of town to watch or bet on the races at Turf Paradise.

Nonetheless, the original owner continued to build Turf Paradise and opened it in early 1956. It quickly went on to become a successful horse racing venue and became the first officially recognized professional sporting franchise in Arizona.

In the more than six decades it has been open to the public, Turf Paradise has only had five owners, the most recent being Jerry Simms. The original owner oversaw its daily operations for more than 30 years before he handed it over to a new owner in the early 1980s.

During the early to mid-80s, Turf Paradise underwent its first major renovation. Improvements were made to its dirt track and a new chute was added.

In short time, more renovations were made to the existing clubhouse. By 1989, Turf Paradise began accepting off-track betting from a single location in nearby Cave Creek. Off-track betting, or OTB, is now one of the primary ways that Turf Paradise brings in revenue with its OTB operations extending to 45 in-state locations, more than 900 out-of-state sites, and six international locations.

In 2000, Jerry Simms took over the helm at Turf Paradise and quickly invested millions into making it the premier horse racing facility it is today. He began by expanding the property’s clubhouse and the Turf House. The clubhouse now boasts an exclusive Director’s Suite as well as an outdoor patio that overlooks the track. These renovations cost Jerry Simms more than $5 million.

In addition, Jerry Simms added 80 terminals throughout the property as well as two private betting carrels. Thanks to his real estate savvy, Jerry Simms easily acquired the land adjacent to the racetrack. This property, at the intersection of 19th Avenue and Bell Road, has opened the possibility of big-box retailers and other commercial endeavors moving into the neighborhood. Jerry Simms with this acquisition has improved the look and function of the neighborhood and increased the property value of the existing structures.

Jerry Simms also introduced simulcast online broadcasting of the daily races and stakes at Turf Paradise. People can now place OTBs on the Turf Paradise website as well as get daily race results, schedules, and other horse racing information.

However, the Turf Paradise improvement for which Jerry Simms is arguably most appreciated for is the creation of a state-of-the-art equine therapy pool for exclusive use by the Turf Paradise racehorses and their owners. This pool alone draws dozens of racehorse owners from across the country to Turf Paradise. It has changed the way that owners and trainers exercise and rehabilitate their thoroughbred and quarter racehorses.

Turf Paradise also boasts facilities like state-of-the-art horse barns, visitors facilities, and other accommodations that continue to make it one of the state’s biggest tourist draws. With its daily races and simulcast broadcasts that are aired online and across the globe, Turf Paradise and its owner Jerry Simms have become synonymous with premier horse racing.

It also has propelled Jerry Simms into one of the most recognized names in the horse racing industry. Thanks to his leadership, Turf Paradise has enjoyed stable financial health since 2004. The future for Turf Paradise under the leadership of Jerry Simms is likewise predicted to be stable if not more lucrative than it is right now.

During the off-season, Turf Paradise is used as a venue for motorcycle racing. Jerry Simms also regularly hosts special events like fundraisers and children’s days. Jerry Simms is very involved in the local charity scene and particularly likes to help bring awareness and funds to children’s organizations.

When Jerry Simms opens the doors to the area’s youngest of residents, Jerry Simms offers fun activities like pony rides and feeding the horses. Children can also meet the jockeys and owners of the Turf Paradise.

Jerry Simms and the Turf Paradise Equine Therapy Swimming Pool

Jerry Simms made horse racing history by bringing one of the first equine therapy swimming pools to Turf Paradise. This therapy pool, designed specifically for racehorses and their owners or trainers, is 30 by 60 feet and 12 feet deep. It is capable of holding 140,000 gallons of water at a time and can fit up to six full-size racehorses and their owners or trainers at the same time.

Indeed, Jerry Simms with the addition of this therapy pool for racehorses demonstrated not only his concern for the more than 2000 horses that live and train at Turf Paradise. He also exhibited his forward thinking in the industry. Jerry Simms recognizes the approval of the American Association of Equine Practitioners of hydrotherapy for racehorses. Hydrotherapy is widely regarded as one of the safest and non-invasive ways to train and rehabilitate these animals.

In fact, before the inception of hydrotherapy, trainers had to rely on traditional means of exercising and rehabilitating racehorses. These exercises took their toll on horses’ legs, muscles, joints, and tendons. They also strained horses’ heart and respiratory health.

The AAEP, however, recommends hydrotherapy as a way to get racehorses back into top physical condition and ready to go back out on the track. This form of therapy is easier on horses’ bodies and improves cardiovascular and respiratory health. Thanks to Jerry Simms, horse owners and trainers now have a safe and innovative way to strengthen, heal, and work with their animals.

This pool is another reason why many owners will choose Turf Paradise as their preferred training and housing facility over other racetracks in the state. With proper credentials and licensing, owners can house and train their owners at Turf Paradise and race them at this premier Jerry Simms facility during regular horse racing seasons.

Jerry Simms’s Turf Paradise Off-Track Betting and Website

Jerry Simms is also forward-thinking in simulcasting online the daily races that take place at Turf Paradise. The simulcasts allow Jerry Simms to extend off-track betting to racing fans across the country and globe. Jerry Simms even has ensured that the website for Turf Paradise is set up so anyone can place an off-track bet online and get real-time simulcast results.

Jerry Simms has made the process of placing off-track bets simple and fast from the website for Turf Paradise. Betters can use the off-track betting link found at the top of the Turf Paradise homepage to find places in the states and countries that allow OTBs.

The website as directed by Jerry Simms also provides information on the horses, owners, trainers, and jockeys, details that are critical to placing an off-track bet at Turf Paradise. The information is kept updated so people can wager any amount they deem appropriate for the horse on which they are wagering.

Jerry Simms has also ensured that visitors to Turf Paradise as well as people at home can listen to and get results for the races. The races are simulcast five days a week from Friday through Tuesday online. Results are posted immediately after the conclusion of a race. The regular season at Turf Paradise typically lasts from mid-October to early May.

The Turf Paradise website is also a great place for racing fans to find memorabilia and gifts for special occasions. The website is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Thanks to the innovative design and function of the website, Jerry Simms has ensured that Turf Paradise remains one of the premier racing facilities in Arizona and across the globe.

Few people have made an impact on any professional sports franchise in the manner in which Jerry Simms has impacted Turf Paradise in Phoenix. Thanks to his leadership, this horse racing venue has not only continued to thrive and succeed. It has extended its reach beyond Phoenix and Arizona into much of the U.S. and numerous countries across the globe.

Jerry Simms ensures that every horse racing fan across the U.S. and world can place off-track bets and get fast results for the daily races at the venue with its innovative and user-friendly website. The website is one of the most accessible resources available for Turf Paradise and anyone who wants to enjoy the horse races there. The website also has boosted the revenue that Jerry Simms has brought in since his acquisition of the racing venue.

While Turf Paradise has always enjoyed relatively good health and stability, it has not been until the leadership of Jerry Simms that it truly knew financial lucrativeness. The vision of Jerry Simms has transformed the way that the racetrack does business and engages the public.

In addition to making the venue and website accessible and friendly to racing fans, Jerry Simms also has taken the initiative to make the property more appealing to racehorse owners and trainers. The equine therapy pool that Jerry Simms ordered for the property shortly after taking over continues to be one of his most remarkable accomplishments as the owner and operator of the venue.

As proud of Jerry Simms may be of his professional accomplishments at Turf Paradise, he arguably is most proud of his entrepreneurial career that started in the 1970s. The career of Jerry Simms has extended into industries like banking, real estate, and car sales. Nearly 40 years later; however, Jerry Simms regards himself as a proud grandfather and family man. Jerry Simms readily credits his love of racehorses and horse racing as well as his childhood growing up in the Midwest for his success today.